Greek word · G593

ἀποδοκιμάζω

apodokimazō

to reject

'To reject after testing, to declare unfit, to disqualify.' It is the opposite of δοκιμάζω, 'to test and approve.' It is used of coins or metals that fail an assay, of candidates who fail an official scrutiny, and generally of people or things judged worthless (BDAG s.v. ἀποδοκιμάζω).

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπο-δοκιμάζω

[in LXX: Psalms 118:22, al. (מָאַס) ;]

to reject: Matthew 21:42 (LXX), Mark 8:31 12:10" (LXX) Luke 9:22 17:25 20:17" (LXX), Hebrews 12:17, 1 Peter 2:4 2:7" (LXX) (Cremer, 701; MM, see word).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 17:25

Range of meaning

'To reject after testing, to declare unfit, to disqualify.' It is the opposite of δοκιμάζω, 'to test and approve.' It is used of coins or metals that fail an assay, of candidates who fail an official scrutiny, and generally of people or things judged worthless (BDAG s.v. ἀποδοκιμάζω).

Against the English

All the major English versions say 'rejected,' which is correct but thinner. The Greek suggests a verdict reached after looking him over: he was examined and judged not to be what he claimed. The Latin Vulgate's reprobari (from which English gets 'reprobate') keeps more of that judicial sense.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical Athens the dokimasia was the formal scrutiny of men chosen for public office; someone who failed it was apodokimastheis, disqualified. In the Septuagint, Psalm 117:22 (Hebrew 118:22): 'the stone which the builders rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν) has become the head of the corner'; Jeremiah 6:30 'rejected silver, for the LORD has rejected them.' Jesus quotes the Psalm about himself in Luke 20:17, and the same verb is in Luke 9:22 and Mark 8:31. 1 Peter 2:4, 7 uses it of Christ as the rejected living stone.

From the study of Hebrews 12:17

Range of meaning

To reject after testing; to declare unfit or disqualified. Δοκιμάζω means to test or approve, as with metals, coins, or candidates for office in Athens. With ἀπο- it means failing that test.

Against the English

"Rejected" is accurate. YLT's "disapproved of" keeps the sense of failing an examination.

Used elsewhere in the period

Psalm 118:22 LXX (quoted in Mark 12:10 and 1 Peter 2:4, 7): "the stone the builders rejected (ἀπεδοκίμασαν)". Jeremiah 6:30 LXX: "call them rejected silver, for the Lord has rejected them." Luke 9:22 and 17:25: the Son of Man "rejected by this generation".

From the study of Mark 12:10

Range of meaning

To reject after examination: to test something and declare it unfit or not genuine. It is the opposite of dokimazō, "to test and approve." In classical usage it was applied to rejecting candidates for public office at the Athenian dokimasia (scrutiny of officials), to rejecting counterfeit coins, and to rejecting unfit materials. In the LXX it translates Hebrew maʾas, "reject, refuse, spurn."

Against the English

English "rejected" is accurate, but it can sound like a casual dismissal or a feeling of being unwanted. The Greek suggests a deliberate verdict by qualified inspectors: the experts examined the stone and ruled against it.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Psalm 117(118):22; Jeremiah 6:30 LXX, "rejected silver... for the Lord has rejected them", the image of an assayer discarding metal that fails the test. In the NT the verb appears at Mark 8:31 and Luke 9:22; 17:25 for the Son of Man's rejection, and at Hebrews 12:17 and 1 Peter 2:4, 7 (the rejected living stone).

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 21:42 ἀπεδοκίμασαν rejected

    Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

    Here: Not careless neglect but a considered verdict: the experts looked the stone over and declared it unfit. It is the same verb Jesus used to predict his rejection by "the elders, chief priests and scribes" (Mark 8:31; Luke 9:22).

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 8:31 ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι to be rejected

    Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again.

    Here: To be examined and declared unfit, the way a coin or a candidate for office fails inspection. It echoes Psalm 118:22, "the stone the builders rejected", which Mark quotes in 12:10.

  2. Mark 12:10 ἀπεδοκίμασαν rejected

    Have you never read this Scripture: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

    Here: The builders looked the stone over and officially declared it unfit for use. Mark uses this same verb in Jesus' first passion prediction (8:31), where the Son of Man is to be "rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes", the very groups standing in front of him here (11:27).

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 9:22 ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι to be rejected

    “The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

    Here: To be examined and declared unfit, failing the test. It echoes Psalm 118:22, 'the stone the builders rejected,' which Luke quotes with the same verb in 20:17.

  2. Luke 17:25 ἀποδοκιμασθῆναι to be rejected

    But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

    Here: 'To be rejected,' with the sense of being looked over, judged, and declared unfit. It echoes Psalm 118:22, the stone the builders examined and threw out, which Jesus quotes about himself in Luke 20:17.

  3. Luke 20:17 ἀπεδοκίμασαν rejected

    But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?

    Here: The builders inspected the stone and judged it unfit. This is the same verb as Jesus' earlier prediction that he would be 'rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes' (9:22), and those are the very groups confronting him here (20:1).

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 12:17 ἀπεδοκιμάσθη· he was rejected;

    For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected. He could find no ground for repentance, though he sought the blessing with tears.

    Here: "He was rejected": examined and turned down as not qualifying. It is the word for a failed candidate or a coin that will not pass. The passive leaves open whether Isaac rejected him, God did, or both.

1 Peter · 2

  1. 1 Peter 2:4 ἀποδεδοκιμασμένον rejected

    As you come to Him, the living stone, rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight,

    Here: 'Examined and thrown out as unfit', the builder's verdict in Psalm 118:22. The perfect tense means the human verdict was passed and still stands as people's view of him.

  2. 1 Peter 2:7 ἀπεδοκίμασαν rejected

    To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

    Here: A deliberate judgment, not an oversight. The builders inspected the stone and declared it unfit. The aorist tense views this as a completed act, which the early church saw in the leaders' rejection of Jesus.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.